Chancellor's Notes

April 7, 2006

We have a number of successes to celebrate this week.

The Department of Psychiatrys 11th annual
Sunday at Emerils raised $300,000. The sold-out event was put
together by the Department and a dedicated corps of volunteers. The
funding will support the mental health services our medical school
provides to children and families, which have never been more needed.
Since Katrina, Dr. Howard Osofsky and the Psychiatry faculty have provided
statewide leadership for Louisiana Spirit, the Office of Mental
Health Crisis Services response for impacted and displaced families;
leadership and consultation for Project Serv, the Louisiana State
Department of Education crisis response in meeting needs in schools
following the disaster and displacement of children; direct services for
first responders and their families in New Orleans and St. Bernard; 24/7
mental health response and back-up with a Help Line for crisis services
throughout the State; training and support for crisis counselors,
teachers, parents, and schools. They provided interventions and support on
the cruise ships where first responders and their 700 returning children
were housed. They conducted mental health screenings and resilience
building services for more than 4,000 children in New Orleans, St.
Bernard, and nearby receiving parishes with displaced children. They
provided outreach consultation and training with SAMSHA volunteers to 15
district, charter, independent, and parochial schools in Orleans and
Jefferson parishes. They have provided consultation and training for
reopening child care centers meeting special needs of young children and
families. They have also collaborated with the St. Bernard Unified School
District to support the more than 2,100 children, families, and school
personnel who have returned to the parish.

The Camp Tiger Wine and Cheese Party was a great
success. Thanks to all who participated. Our medical students raised
$24,000 at the fund-raiser that was held in Baton Rouge for the first
time. This represents about half of what is needed to fund this free
week-long summer day camp for mentally and/or physically challenged
children. Even if you missed the party, its not too late to support this
incredible outreach effort. For more information, or if you know a family
who might have a child who would like to attend Camp Tiger, please visit
http://www.lsuhsc.edu/camptiger/ .

This years Tiger Run was also very successful.
Nearly 200 people participated, some runners, and some walkers. The
medical students raised about $2,500 from registration alone. The proceeds
will help the LSUHSC Student-Run Homeless Clinics in New Orleans to
recover and reopen.

Our New Orleans campus played a role in some
excitement this week. A number of our properties were used in the filming
of Deja Vu, a Touchstone movie starring Denzel Washington. The Tony
Scott-directed, Jerry Bruckheimer-produced project marked the return of
the film industry to New Orleans as this is the first major motion picture
shooting in town since the storm.

We are
pleased to be part of New Orleans economic recovery, contributing in many
ways. Deja Vu is scheduled to be in theaters this Thanksgiving.